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MINISTER SPEAKS OF DIVERSIFIED ENERGY SUPPLIES
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 1 2006
Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said on September 30 that
"in case of necessity" Georgia will import electricity from Turkey,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran during winter.
Speaking at a press conference in Tbilisi Nika Gilauri said that a
trilateral meeting was held in Armenian capital Yerevan among the
Georgian, Armenian and Iranian Energy Ministers on September 29,
where a document was signed enabling Georgia to import electricity
from Armenia and Iran.
"We will be able to import at least 50 megawatts of electricity. We
will continue talks over the increase of this amount," Nika Gilauri
said shortly after return from Armenia.
He said that this will be a barter deal, so Georgia will not pay
cash. Instead, Georgia will export the same amount of electricity
back to Iran and Armenia in the summer period, when Georgia usually
generates extra electricity.
He also said that similar deal has already been reached with Turkey.
"If necessary, Georgia will import 100 megawatts of electricity
from Turkey and return the same amount during the summer period. So,
we will not have to pay a cash," the Energy Minister said.
He also said that starting from this November Georgia will also
be able to receive 300 million cubic meters of gas through the
Shah-Deniz project, instead of 60 million cubic meters as envisaged
by the project initially.
"This became possible as a result of intensive negotiations with the
State Oil Company of Azerbaijani Republic [SOCAR] and President Natig
Aliyev already gave his consent," the Minister said.
He said that the price for the extra amount of gas has not been
agreed yet; but the price of 60 million cubic meters was set at USD
55 per 1000 cubic meters by the agreement which was signed before
construction of the Shah-Deniz pipeline was launched.
The Georgian Energy Minister said although Russian energy giant
Gazprom still remains Georgia's major gas supplier, "we will do our
best to strengthen our energy security and be ready for any possible
surprises."
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 1 2006
Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri said on September 30 that
"in case of necessity" Georgia will import electricity from Turkey,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran during winter.
Speaking at a press conference in Tbilisi Nika Gilauri said that a
trilateral meeting was held in Armenian capital Yerevan among the
Georgian, Armenian and Iranian Energy Ministers on September 29,
where a document was signed enabling Georgia to import electricity
from Armenia and Iran.
"We will be able to import at least 50 megawatts of electricity. We
will continue talks over the increase of this amount," Nika Gilauri
said shortly after return from Armenia.
He said that this will be a barter deal, so Georgia will not pay
cash. Instead, Georgia will export the same amount of electricity
back to Iran and Armenia in the summer period, when Georgia usually
generates extra electricity.
He also said that similar deal has already been reached with Turkey.
"If necessary, Georgia will import 100 megawatts of electricity
from Turkey and return the same amount during the summer period. So,
we will not have to pay a cash," the Energy Minister said.
He also said that starting from this November Georgia will also
be able to receive 300 million cubic meters of gas through the
Shah-Deniz project, instead of 60 million cubic meters as envisaged
by the project initially.
"This became possible as a result of intensive negotiations with the
State Oil Company of Azerbaijani Republic [SOCAR] and President Natig
Aliyev already gave his consent," the Minister said.
He said that the price for the extra amount of gas has not been
agreed yet; but the price of 60 million cubic meters was set at USD
55 per 1000 cubic meters by the agreement which was signed before
construction of the Shah-Deniz pipeline was launched.
The Georgian Energy Minister said although Russian energy giant
Gazprom still remains Georgia's major gas supplier, "we will do our
best to strengthen our energy security and be ready for any possible
surprises."